Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-07-08


TuCKY.
From the Boston Advcrtscr.1
Nothing in the fouds and vendettas Of
the Middle Ages, or in the annals Of assas
sination, reads more stnrtlngly than the
matter. Of fact stories that come to us from
Kentucky Of a whole county torn and out
ragged for years by two parties ending for
the present in "A butchery at Morehead
few days ago. Should such tale reach us
from the middle of Africa, or even from
Mexico, it might not arouse so much inter
est but from Kentucky, it seems hardly
possible. Yet there is no mistaking the
facts. For four years Rowan county has
been terrorized Situated in eastern Ken
lucky, on the Chesapeake K Ohio railroad,
it is less than 40 miles from the Ohio line.
aud not 10 hours ride from Louisville or
Cincinnati. 1t is "white mans county.
The leader in the butchcries which have
just now eliminated was one Craig Tollivcr,
Il Democratic local politician, and the
trouble dates from 1891, when unexpectcd-
" young Republican, named Clark Hum
phrey, was chosen sheriff Tolliver aud
Democratic friends declared that the coun.
ty should not bc so disgraced aud that
Humphrey should never execute writ
The fighting began before the election was
hardly over and though Humphrey escaped
from several ambushcs in which his friend,
and deputies were killed, he was finally
obliged to leave the county where before "a
year was out Tolliver had gained full con
troll This was only after bloody work on
both sides in which nearly 20 men were
killed, including rolliver's brother Killed.
it should he said not in darkness but broad
daylight for the Kentucky idea is to fight
in open day, TO slaughter ot any time, and
then trust to friend, on the jury to acquit
For in Kentucky and Rowan trial by
jury Is still in vogue. and in nearly every
case murder has been followed bV "a legal
examination, though not bv punishment
10 is "A "whitc mans county. and no dcvia.
ton from the forms of Justice is allowed
1t s indeed. almost picturesque % notice
how this idea has run through all the series
of murders Tolliver, when not sheriff.
always forged an order as such. Once bv
such IA ruse he got out of jail the killer of
his brother, aud shot him nn the train while
nominaily taking him tn another place for
safe keeping. At another time. having
killed in cold blood in his capacity as Il
judge two boys Of II and 49, ONE almost
dead with consumption. who had the mi,
fortune To- be- related 10 enemies Of his. he
returned home. had filled out "a warrant nm
telating the murder. and then cxunvratcl
himself on the ground that tn" t"o lads
were resisting arrest Is II any wonder
ih"t carry M ~" in" SITUATION became ="
grave that the le" decent men 10 the coun
" applied {" the governor for ad Hr
sent down military company and u Judge
." try l"ihver. And TINS was the result
h' promised 10 leave th" county, and Ken.
lucky justice was apprasrd for "A score of
murders. he dnN Following th' departure
"i the militia h' returned, breathing ven
Sran'r ON those VIII" had opposed Mm-
ms time hr went I" work with a system.
| \" more i"rterlGs l"r NM lie had n,"
idra. At the fall elections OF 1855, hardly
handful of men voting for HIM, and the
re>t NOT daring To GO To- tn" polls, this man
I"liivcr was elected JudEeot Rowan county.
hrnr'i"rth me- WAS {" administer justice,
ana NOT I" h' disturbed 10y even the threat
| inht II was I" he administered tn INN.
since then he has held high carnival.
Ihr'' murders nave been committed 10y
hin' either by his own hand, or inh~ pres
| enre ana hy ms orders those who opposed
nm have been driven from nome Women
| ON th' most shameless prcteNtS have been
| imprisoned at ms commands, and lac and
ms followers have hesitated at nothing 10
| Sratliy thelr hl'odthlrstness